The Evolution of Ai Qing's Poetic Style: From Deeply Contemplative to Clear and Optimistic

Abstract

This paper focuses on the evolution of Ai Qing's poetic style. Based on tracing the trajectory of his creative development, and by integrating the Chinese poetic tradition, comparisons with his contemporaries, and close readings of specific texts, it delves into the transformation of his style from the “deeply contemplative and cadenced” mode of the 1930s-40s to the “clear and optimistic” mode post-1950s. Through analyzing the imagery choice, linguistic rhythm, and emotional tone in representative works such as Snow Falls on China’s Land and The Reef, connecting to Du Fu's “poetic history” tradition, and contrasting the creative characteristics of poets like Bian Zhilin and Guo Moruo, this study reveals the inevitability and uniqueness of Ai Qing's stylistic evolution. The research finds that this shift was not only a response to historical changes and a reflection of personal experience but, more importantly, an embodiment of modern Chinese poetry's exploration of balance between “inheriting tradition” and “innovating for reality”. It demonstrates the development of the poet's artistic pursuit while also providing a valuable paradigm for interpreting the deep connections between literature and its era, and between the individual and the collective, highlighting the vitality of modern poetry in maintaining its essence and innovating amidst the tides of time.